José Ramírez has spent much of 2026 fighting the same battle from two directions: age and a troublesome hamate bone surgery that has drained the pop from his bat. The numbers tell the story.
He’s hitting .230/.319/.364 with 11 home runs, 33 stolen bases and a 90 wRC+, and his second half has been even rougher at 57 wRC+. For a player who hadn’t been a below-average hitter since 2015, when he posted a 72 wRC+, that’s a stark drop.
But Wednesday’s finale against the Chicago White Sox offered a different snapshot. Ramírez looked much more like himself, lining two doubles, driving in a run and posting some strong exit velocities. It was the best he has looked in weeks, maybe even months.
That’s enough to keep Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt firmly in Ramírez’s corner. After the game, Vogt made it clear he isn’t buying into the idea that Ramírez is finished or fading for good.
“We go when Hosey goes. Never count him out.
You gotta wait for Hosey because he’s gonna show up when you need him. We love him.
He’s our guy, and he’s carried us, and it’s been a tough year. That’s the truth.
But so we all get energy when Hosey gets hits. And when he’s coming through in those big situations, you know we know good things are about to happen,” Vogt said.
The message was even more direct in the follow-up quote: “He our guy and he's carried us, and it's been a tough year… that's the truth. But so we all get energy when Hosey gets hits. And when he's coming through in those big situations, you know we know good things are about to happen.”
That backing comes at a time when some fans and analysts have pushed for Ramírez to be moved down in the order, or even taken out of the lineup. It’s a fair reaction to a star who has looked out of sorts for long stretches this year, especially with the Guardians trying to squeeze out every bit of production they can get.
Still, Vogt has shown plenty of trust in players who have mattered to this team, and he hasn’t been quick to pull the plug on slumps. He lived through nearly three months of poor results from Steven Kwan, stuck with Cade Smith through an early-season slump, and kept Travis Bazzana in the mix during his summer struggles. He’s not about to give up on Ramírez now, especially not on a player who has carried Cleveland for more than a decade.
Ramírez has been rough at times, even almost unplayable. But if the hand starts to improve, the Guardians know what kind of danger he can still bring. One good stretch could change the feel around him fast.
In Other News...
Guardians Suddenly Have A George Valera Decision To Make
George Valeras season has turned into a study in patience for the Guardians. The outfielder opened 2026 on the injured list with a calf injury, then was optioned to Triple-A after a slow start in the majors, leaving him to rebuild his case the old-fashioned way. Since late July, he has done exactly that, putting together a strong stretch at the plate in the minors and keeping his name in the conversation even as the big-league roster moved on without him.
The recent surge has pushed a real decision onto Clevelands front office and player development group. Some observers are already talking about a possible return to the major league roster, and the question is not just when Valera might get another look, but how the Guardians handle the 40-man roster if they want to make room. For a player who has answered with production after a rocky start, the next move now feels like it could say as much about the organizations timeline as it does about Valeras future. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Got The Response They Needed In A Tight Division Race
In a tight division race, the Guardians needed a clean response at Progressive Field, and they got one in a 5-3 win over the Athletics. Jose Ramirez and Travis Bazzana delivered the big swings, with Ramirez also reaching his 1,000th career RBI, while Joey Cantillo gave Cleveland exactly the kind of stabilizing effort it needed by working six scoreless innings in relief.
The result nudged Cleveland to 79-75 and kept the pressure on in a stretch where every game feels bigger than the last. It was the kind of night that showed how the Guardians can still win different ways, with veteran punch, a timely contribution from a younger bat and a bullpen bridge that held firm when the game could have slipped. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Bullpen Depth Tested Again As Colin Holderman Hits Another Snag
Colin Holdermans return from the injured list has run into another detour, with the right-hander pulled from his latest rehab appearance because of wrist discomfort. The Guardians are still trying to sort out what comes next for the pitcher, who has been sidelined since Sept. 4 with wrist inflammation, and his status only adds to a bullpen picture that has already been asked to absorb plenty of uncertainty.
Holderman had been pitching well before the injury, but his season has not been as steady since midseason, when the wrist issue may have started to show up in his performance. For Cleveland, the concern is not just about one rehab outing going sideways, but about how much longer they may have to wait before getting a clearer read on whether he can help down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]